Investitures - Auckland

  • <span class="title">Valerie Vili </span><br/>Valerie Vili, of Manukau, received the Insignia of an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to athletics at an investiture ceremony on March 31.  Ms Vili, who is pictured after the ceremony with family and friends, is currently the Olympic Champion, world champion, and Commonwealth record-holder in the women's shot put event.  She began competing at age 14.  In 2004, she broke the New Zealand record by becoming the first New Zealand woman to break the 19 metre mark.  She competed at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, where she won the silver medal and at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, where she won gold. She has attended two Olympic Games, finishing eighth place at the 2004 Athens Games before winning gold at in the women's shotput at the 2008 Beijing Games.
  • <span class="title">Susan Wright</span><br/>Susan Wright, of Coromandel, received the Queen's Service Medal at an investiture ceremony on 3 April 2009 for services to the community.  Mrs Wright has been involved with many organisations in the Coromandel for more than 30 years.  She has been actively involved in the protection of historic buildings in the district and was instrumental in the fundraising for the restoration of a category 2 house in Hauraki.  She founded Keep Coromandel Beautiful, the Buffalo Cemetery Care Group, and the Coromandel Resident &amp; Ratepayers Association.  Mrs Wright has also been a member of many other community groups, including the Coromandel Community Services Trust, the Upper Coromandel Branch of the New Zealand Forest and Bird Society,  and the Coromandel Historical Research Group.
  • <span class="title">Anna Marshall</span><br/>Anna Marshall, of Whangārei, received the Queen's Service Medal at an investiture ceremony on 3 April 2009 for services to the Pacific Islands community and the community.  Mrs Marshall has been involved in the Pacific Islands community in Whangārei for more than 25 years.  She is the founding president of the Whangārei branch of P.A.C.I.F.I.C.A.  She conducted a Northland wide survey for the Northland District Health Board on the needs for Pacific people in the region.  She is the service coordinator for and a life member of the Northland Pacific Islands Charitable trust, is the vice-chairperson of Whangārei Council of Social Services, and is a delegate to the New Zealand Council of Social Services.  Mrs Marshall has also been involved in Meals on Wheels and as an interpreter for the local courts.
  • <span class="title">Malia Hamani</span><br/>Malia Hamani, of Otahuhu, received the Queen's Service Medal at an investiture ceremony on 3 Apri 2009 for services to the Pacific Islands community and senior citizens.  Ms Hamani has  contributed to the Pacific Islands and senior citizens community in Auckland for many years.  She is the founding member of the first Elder Abuse and Neglect Prevention and the Empower and Pamper Programme.  She is a positive aging ambassador and has worked to improve the health and wellbeing of all senior citizensin the community.  She was involved in the establishment of the Pacific Islands Home Care Service.  Ms Hamani was also the Chair of the Fakatouato Community Trust, a member of the community reference group for the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs, and is a Pacific Islands representative on the Regional Mental Health Committee and the National Carers Alliance.
  • <span class="title">Bob Bettison</span><br/>Bob Bettison, of Waiuku, received the Queen's Service Medal at an investiture ceremony on 3 April 2009 for services to the community.  Mr Bettison has been involved in the Auckland community in many capacities locally for more than 50 years.  He is the founding Chairman of the Franklin District Council Library Trust and under his guidance; the trust established a new library and arts facilities in Pukekohe, Waiuku, and Tuakau.  He was the branch President of IHC Franklin Branch and was elected to the Board of Governors of IHC New Zealand.  Mr Bettison is a member of the Rotary Club of Waiuku.  He is Secretary and trustee of Percy Hamilton Homes Trust, the building project co-ordinator for Waiuku and Districts Combined Churches, and established the Franklin University of the Third Age.
  • <span class="title">Heather Maloney</span><br/>Heather Maloney, of Pukekohe, received the Insignia of a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit at an investiture ceremony on 3 April 2009 for services to the community.  Mrs Maloney has been involved with the Franklin community for many years.  She was mayor of Franklin District Council.  She was Chair of the Franklin Centre Building Project, which was built to accommodate a library, arts centre, information centre, café, and meeting rooms.  She is a member and training officer of the Franklin and Districts Justices' of the Peace Association.  Mrs Maloney is also involved in a number of local activities, including as chair of the Family Support Centre.
  • <span class="title">John Cronin</span><br/>John Cronin, of Tauranga, received the Insignia of a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit at an investiture ceremony on 3 April 2009 for services to local body affairs and the community.  Mr Cronin has devoted many years to the community of Tauranga.  He served as a councillor of Tauranga District Council, and a member of the Tauranga Committee of the Local Government Reform in 1989.  He is as a regional councillor and chairman of the Environment Bay of Plenty Regional Council.  He is the chairman of the Regional Land Transport Committee and a director of Port Tauranga.  Mr Cronin is the honorary accountant for many clubs in the Western Bay of Plenty region and is closely involved with Grey Power, organising free financial advice clinics for senior citizens in Tauranga.
  • <span class="title">Oscar Kightley</span><br/>Oscar Kightley, of Taupō, received the Insignia of a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit at an investiture ceremony on 3 April 2009 for services to television and the theatre.    He is notable for his comedy work, namely as a member of the Naked Samoans comedy group and developed the series Bro' Town.  He has also featured in documentaries on racism in New Zealand and is a presenter on Nui FM's breakfast show. He established the Island Players Theatre Company and the Pacific Underground Theatre Group.  His plays include A Frigate Bird Sings and Dawn Raids. Mr Kightley also co-wrote and acted in Sione's Wedding and is a member of Creative New Zealand's Arts Council.
  • <span class="title">Alan Merry</span><br/>Professor Alan Merry, of Glendowie, received the Insignia of an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit at an investiture ceremony on 3 April 2009 for services to medicine, in particular anaesthesia.  Professor Merry is the foundation professor of anaesthesia at the University of Auckland Medical School and is recognised internationally for his research in medical ethics, safe medical practice, and anaesthesia.  He is Chair of the Safety and Quality Assurance Committee of the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthetists and was co-founder and co-Chair of the New Zealand Medical Law Reform Group. He was President of the Auckland Medico-Legal Society and is Chair of the New Zealand Advisory Panel for the Medical Protection Society.  Professor Merry was recently appointed a member of the Quality Improvement Committee and has patented electronic methods for anaesthesia monitoring that are used in several countries. 
  • <span class="title">Tom Ashley</span><br/>Tom Ashley, of Devonport, received the Insignia of an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit at an investiture ceremony on 3 April 2009 for services to board sailing.  An Olympic and world champion sailboarder, he has competed since the age of 11 and internationally since 2001.  He has competed in many international events and came first at the Semaine Olympique Francseau, the Trofeo Princesa Sofia, and the South American Championships, all in 2007.  He has competed and won three Youth World Championships and competed at the World Championships in 2006, where he was placed second.  He has competed at two Olympic Games.  Mr Ashley was placed 10th in Athens in 2004 and won a gold medal in Beijing in 2008.
  • <span class="title">Kay McKelvie</span><br/>Kay McKelvie, of Freemans Bay, received the Insignia of a Companion of the Queen's Service Order at an investiture ceremony on 3 April 2009 for services to business and health.  Ms McKelvie has been involved in business and health organisations for a number of years.   She was a member of the Ministry of Health Committee on Informed Consent, Chair of the District Health Boards of New Zealand, and is a director of the New Zealand Lotteries Commission and the Crown Health Financing Agency.  Ms McKelvie is also a member of the New Zealand Tourism Board and the State Housing Appeal Authority.
  • <span class="title">Roberta Farrell</span><br/>Professor Roberta Farrell, of Hamilton, received the Insignia of a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit at an investiture ceremony on 3 April 2009 for services to biochemical research.  She is a researcher and teacher in biochemistry and biotechnology and has specialised in fundamental and applied studies of enzymes, cellulose, fungal ecology, and bio-control research and products.  Her research has also investigated Antarctic microbial biodiversity and bioprospecting and the degradation of artefacts and historic wooden huts in Antarctica. She is a director of the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology and has contributed to a wide range of books and journals.  Professor Farrell was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand in 2005 and the International Academy of Wood Science in 1990.
  • <span class="title">Gwen Nagel</span><br/>Gwen Nagel, of Kaukapakapa, received the Insignia of a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit at an investiture ceremony on 2 April 2009 for services to special education.  Mrs Nagel has been an advocate and worked for the advancement of educational services for blind or near sighted children for more than 25 years.  She was a vision resource teacher for many years, travelling the North Island to teach blind students.  She was a senior lecturer at the Auckland College of Education, where she co-ordinated the Postgraduate Diploma in Education of Students with Vision Impairment.  Mrs Nagel was the Chief Executive of the Vision Education Agency.
  • <span class="title">Dave Currie</span><br/>Dave Currie, of Raglan, received the Insignia of a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit at an investiture ceremony on 2 April 2009 for services to sports administration.  Mr Currie has been involved with motivational leadership and managing elite athletes for many years.  He is the chef de mission for the New Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth teams and has managed all the Olympic and Commonwealth Games teams since 2000.  He was the Executive Director for The Halberg Trust and was the Chairman and chef de mission of Paralympics New Zealand for many years.  Mr Currie was the race director for the New Zealand Ironman Triathlon and a panellist for New Zealand's Top 100 Sports History Makers.
  • <span class="title">Chris Mullane</span><br/>Lt Col (Rtd) Chris Mullane, of Devonport, received the Insignia of an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit at an investiture ceremony on 2 April 2009 for services to Vietnam veterans.  He is involved with the Joint Implementation Group of the Ex-Vietnam Services Association and has contributed to the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding to ensure veteran's health issues are addressed and there is wider support for veterans.  He has been involved with other policy issues, including the War Pension Act.  His work has ensured that needs of Vietnam veterans, their families, and veterans of future conflicts will be met.
  • <span class="title">Teina Akavi</span><br/>Teina Akavi, of Henderson, received the Queen's Service Medal at an investiture ceremony on 2 April 2009 for services to the Cook Islands community.  Mr Akavi is involved in the Cook Islands community in Auckland.  He was instrumental in the establishment of the Nor Western Cook Island Taokotai Inc.  He was involved with the establishment of an early childhood centre and instigated a Saturday youth programme for youth in the neighbourhood.  He works closely with the Waitemata District Health Board to promote physical activity and nutritional educational in the Pacific Islands community.  Mr Akavi also organises aerobics and aqua aerobics classes to target and reduce obesity. 
  • <span class="title">Tupou Tamata-Manapori</span><br/>Tupou Tamata-Manapori, of Manukau, received the Queen's Service Medal at an investiture ceremony on 2 April 2009 for services to the Pacific Islands community.  She has been involved in the Cook Islands community in many capacities for more than 25 years.  She has been a teacher of Cook Island Maori for all of this time and taught at Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate. She is the Ai Metua Cook Islands coordinator of the ‘Mind Your Language'; the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs Cook Island Maori language project.  Mrs Tamata-Manapori was a Manukau city councillor.  She is a founding member of the Manukau City Council Pacific Advisory Council.
  • <span class="title">Lynne Renwick</span><br/>Lynne Renwick, of Te Aroha, received the Queen's Service Medal at an investiture ceremony on 2 April 2009 for services to theatre and youth.  She has been involved in youth theatre in Auckland for more than 20 years.  She set up The Original Young Stagers Theatre Company for children and youth in Manurewa.  The company created a professional touring group, National Touring Productions, which toured schools with various shows.  She wrote the drama handbook, Dramastarter, and has written more than 40 plays and musicals for school children and young people. Ms Renwick is considered a mentor to youth in the Te Aroha community.
  • <span class="title">Hon Margaret Wilson</span><br/>Hon Margaret Wilson, of Tauranga, received the Insignia of a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit at an investiture ceremony on 2 April 2009 for services as a Member of Parliament and as Speaker of the House of Representatives.  Ms Wilson was a List MP and served as Speaker and chairperson of the Parliamentary Service Commission.  She was Attorney-General, the Minister in Charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, and the Minister of Labour.  She was also the Minister Responsible for the Law Commission, the Minister for Courts, the Minister of Commerce, and the Minister for Building Issues.  Ms Wilson was the founding editor of the <em>New Zealand Journal of Industrial Relations,</em> a member of the Advisory Committee to establish the Ministry of Women's Affairs, a director of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, a Law Commissioner, and the foundation dean and a professor of law at the University of Waikato.
  • <span class="title">Hon Mike Rann</span><br/>Hon Mike Rann, Premier of South Australia, received the Insignia of a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit at an investiture ceremony on 2 April 2009 for services to Australia-New Zealand relations. Mr Rann, who is pictured with the Governor-General, Lady Susan Satyanand and Graeme McLellan after the ceremony,  has been a member of the South Australian Parliament since 1985.  He has served as the Premier and the Minister for Economic Development, Social Inclusion, the Arts and Sustainability since 2002.    He is a supporter of New Zealand interests in South Australia, including being the first point of contact for visiting New Zealand ministers, diplomats, and delegations.  Mr Rann is the Patron and Honorary Rangatira of the South Australian Māori community.
  • <span class="title">Mahe Drysdale</span><br/>Mahe Drysdale, of Cambridge, received the Insignia of a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit at an investiture ceremony on 2 April 2009 for services to rowing.  Mr Drysdale, pictured after the ceremony with his grandmother Joy Owens, is a world champion rower and is considered the fastest single sculler in history. He was a member of the New Zealand coxless fours team that went to the World Cup in 2002 and the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, where they competed in the final of their category.  He won the men’s single sculls at the World Rowing Championships in 2005, 2006, and 2007 and won the category for a third time at the 2007 World Rowing Championships in Germany.  He has also won numerous other rowing titles. including the Diamond Sculls at the Henley Royal Regatta.  He recently competed at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing where he won the men’s single sculls bronze medal. 
  • <span class="title">Jeanette Crossley</span><br/>Dr Jeanette Crossley, of One Tree Hill, received the Insignia of a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit at an investiture ceremony on 1 April 2009 for services to science, in particular Addison's Disease.  She developed the New Zealand Addison's Network; a support network for New Zealanders with Addison's disease.  She has created a website and a newsletter that is issued three times a year, providing support for those with the disease.  She has also worked in paediatric diabetes research and was on the executive committee of the New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes.  Dr Crossley also developed the blood spot screening test for cystic fibrosis in newborn babies.  Photo: Photography by Woolf
  • <span class="title">Jennifer Broom</span><br/>Jennifer Broom, of Mt Eden, received the Insignia of a Companion of the Queen's Service Order at an investiture ceremony on 1 April 2009 for services to the refugee community.  Mrs Broom has been involved with the Refugee and Migrant Resettlement Service for more than 15 years, during which time she has contributed significantly to the organisation, spearheading many pivotal changes and contributing to the successful settlement and integration of thousands of refugees in New Zealand.  She works at the Mangere Refugee Reception Centre.    Mrs Broom has been at the forefront of promoting the empowerment model of refugee resettlement, which supports the recruitment of qualified people from a refugee background into professional areas.
  • <span class="title">Granby Siakimotu</span><br/>Granby Siakimotu, of Mangere, received the Queen's Service Medal at an investiture ceremony on 1 April 2009 for services to the Pacific Islands community.  He has been involved with the Pacific Islands community in Auckland for 30 years, particularly in the field of Niuean language and education.  He was involved with the Niue Fono in Herne Bay, where he helped establish the Vagahau Niue language classes which teach and maintain the Niue language.  He was the chairperson of the Niue Teacher's Association, a member of the Pacific Island Polynesian Education Foundation Board of Trustees and the Pacific Island Affairs Advisory Council.  Mr Siakimotu is a translator for Learning Media New Zealand and translates English story books into Niuen as language teaching resources for use in schools and early childhood centres.
  • <span class="title">Nathan Twaddle</span><br/>Nathan Twaddle, of Cambridge, received the Insignia of a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit at an investiture ceremony on 1 April 2009 for services to rowing.  He has represented New Zealand in rowing since 2005.  He has competed as a member of the coxless pairs at an international level at the World Rowing Championships in 2005 and was a silver medallist at the same competition in 2006 and 2007.  He was a member of the coxless pair that won bronze at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
  • <span class="title">Evelyn Tobin</span><br/>Evelyn Tobin, of Massey, received the Insignia of a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit at an investiture ceremony on 1 April 2009 for services to te reo.  She has developed a number of achievement standards, assessment resources, and teachers’ handbooks for the National Certificate of Education Achievement.  She was a national moderator of Te Reo Māori for the New Zealand Qualifications Authority and a taskforce member for the Māori Language National Qualifications Framework.  Ms Tobin is a member of the Mā Te Reo Fund and the Māori Language Commission and is  a Māori language consultant for television.
  • <span class="title">John Werry</span><br/>Professor John Werry, of Mt Eden, received the Insignia of a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit at an investiture ceremony on 1 April 2009 for services to child and adolescent psychiatry .  Professor Werry is a recognised international authority on child and adolescent psychiatry.  His research interests include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, brain-behaviour relationships in children, and behaviour modification in children.  He was instrumental in establishing the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Auckland.  He was a member of the editorial board of a number of scientific journals, including the <em>Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry.</em>  Professor Werry was a founding trustee of the Youth Horizons Trust for severely behaviourally disturbed young persons.
  • <span class="title">Brian Corban</span><br/>Brian Corban, of Mt Albert, received the Insignia of a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit at an investiture ceremony on 1 April 2009 for services to the community.  He has served on the boards of a wide range of companies and community organisations at a local, regional, and national level.  He is the chairman of Genesis Power Ltd, West Auckland Trust Services and latterly of Radio New Zealand.  He has served as chairman and director of a number of other companies, including Corban Viticulture and Baldwin Son and Carey.  He is involved in a number of community organisations, including as a trustee of the West Auckland Hospice Foundation Trust.  He was also an advisory board member of the Church of Melanesia.  Mr Corban was admitted to the Waitakere Business Hall of Fame in 2005.
  • <span class="title">John Wells</span><br/>John Wells, of Auckland, received the Insignia of a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit at an investiture ceremony on 1 April 2009 for services to business and sport.  Mr Wells has contributed to the administration and development of sport and recreation in New Zealand for many years.  He was involved in the formation of the New Zealand Academy of Sport.  He is the chair of Sport and Recreation New Zealand where he was involved with the integration of the Hillary Commission, the New Zealand Sport Foundation and the Office of Tourism and Sport into one organisation.  More recently, he has guided the organisation of the Beijing Olympic campaign.  He was also a member of the Rugby World Cup 2011 Bid Committee and is the director of Rugby World Cup 2011 Ltd.  Mr Wells also holds many directorships, including with Sheffield Ltd, the Auckland City Property Enterprise Board, and Karapiro 2010.
  • <span class="title">Stephen Baggs</span><br/><p> Stephen Baggs, of Kelston, received the Queen's Service Medal at an investiture ceremony on 1 April 2009 for services to the New Zealand Customs Service.  Mr Baggs, who is pictured with John Secker, Deputy Comptroller of Customs, has served with the Customs Service for at least 40 years.  He is a specialist tariff officer.  He is recognised as an expert authority in the area of customs tariff and tariff classification matters and has made a contribution to the facilitation of international trade.  Mr Baggs also plays a key role in educating importers, exporters, and freight forwarding companies through training courses run by the Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarded Federation.  </p>
  • <span class="title">Gordon McDowell</span><br/>Gordon McDowell, of Taupō, received the Queen's Service Medal at an investiture ceremony on 31 March 2009 for services to returned services personnel.  Mr McDowell has been a member of the Taupō RSA for some 40 years.  He has served as the welfare officer for more than 20 years and devotes many hours supporting widows, widowers, or those who suffer from a disability.  He has been the Chairman of the Taupō RSA Trust for more than 15 years.  The trust oversees the club's buildings and pensioner flats and provides mobility scooters and walking frames at no cost to those with a disability.  Mr McDowell was awarded life membership of the Taupō RSA in 1986 and received the RSA Gold Star Award in 1993.
  • <span class="title">Mabel Wharekawa-Burt</span><br/>Mabel Wharekawa-Burt, of Katikati, received the Insignia of a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit at an investiture ceremony on 31 March 2009 for services to the performing arts and the community.  has acted in a number of features films, including <em>Whale Rider</em> and <em>Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence.</em>  She has also played roles in television programmes, including <em>Shortland Street</em> and <em>Mataku</em>.  She has produced and presented television and radio programmes and was the founder of the Cook Island International and Pacific Song and Dance Quests.  Ms Wharekawa-Burt is involved with a number of community organisations in the Bay of Plenty, including Te Rereatukahi Marae.
  • <span class="title">Kenneth Williamson</span><br/>Kenneth Williamson, of Hamilton, received the Queen's Service Medal at an investiture ceremony on 31 March 2009 for services to the community.  Mr Williamson has been involved with a wide range of organisations in the Waikato and the Bay of Plenty for many years.  These have included the MS Waikato Trust, the Perry Foundation, the Scottwood Trust, the Te Whakaruruhau Māori Women's Refuge, the Waikato Diocesan School for Girls, the University of Waikato Foundation, and the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic netball franchise.  He was deputy chair of the board of Hamilton Girls' High School.  He is a member of the Waikato/Thames Valley District Air Training Corps Association of New Zealand and a member of the St Peter's Tennis Club.  Mr Williamson is also a member of the Order of St John in Hamilton, where he has served as an auxiliary ambulance officer and is a member of the St John Midland Regional Ambulance Trust Board.
  • <span class="title">Mere Selwyn</span><br/><p> Mere Selwyn, of Manukau, received the Queen's Service Medal at an investiture ceremony on 31 March for services to Māori and the community.  Mrs Selwyn has been involved in the Manukau community for many years.  She is the chairperson of the board of trustees of Mountain View School and under her leadership, the school went from a failing decile 1 school to being awarded the best New Zealand School of Year Award.  She played a key role in the establishment of the Te Kohanga Reo o Maanuka.  She is also involved in the wider community as a community kuia on-call, who visits prisoners at Paremeremo Prison and patients at Middlemore Hospital.  She also teaches waiata, kapa haka, and karakia at the local Māori Anglican Church, has promoted te reo on local radio stations. </p>
  • <span class="title">Cameron Leslie</span><br/>Cameron Leslie, of Whangarei, received the Insignia of a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit at an investiture ceremony on 31 March 2009 for services to swimming.  Mr Leslie has competed internationally in swimming since 2006.  He competed at the World Paralympics Swimming Championships in 2006 and won the gold medal for the men's 150 metres individual medley at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing.
  • <span class="title">Toesulu Brown</span><br/>Toesulu Brown, of Mt Albert, received the Insignia of a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit at an investiture ceremony on 31 March 2009 for services to the Pacific Islands community.  Ms Brown has been involved with Pacific Island cultural and organisational activities and the teaching of Samoan language in Auckland for more than 40 years.  She is a member of a wide range of organisations, including the Council of Samoan Women.  She is also an organiser for the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Island Festival.   She has recently been a member of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority Writing Panel that drafted the achievement standards and assessment material for NCEA in Samoan.  She is a member of the Samoan Teachers' Association and Faalapotopotoga Aoaoina Gagana Samoa i Aotearoa.
  • <span class="title">Hone Waititi</span><br/>Major (Rtd) Hone Waititi, of Opotiki, received the Insignia of a Companion of the Queen's Service Order at an investiture ceremony on 31 March 2009 for services to the community.  Major Waititi has been involved in his local community for more than 30 years.  He was a member of the 28th Māori Battalion in World War Two and is the only surviving company commander.  He has worked to develop employment opportunities in the community to retain young people and families in the region.  He was the chairperson of Te Kaha Cooperative Dairy Company and was involved with the Horouta Cooperative Company.  He is the founding trustee of several land trusts, including Te Arawhata Trust and has been involved with his local church for all this time.
  • <span class="title">Clem Simich</span><br/>Hon Clem Simich, of St Heliers, received the Insignia of a Companion of the Queen's Service Order at an investiture ceremony on 31 March 2009 for services as a Member of Parliament.  Mr Simich was the MP for Tamaki from 1992 to 2005 and a List Member from 2005 to 2008.  He held a number of ministerial posts, including Minister in Charge of the Audit Department, Minister of Police, Minister for Racing, and Minister of Corrections.  He was the Assistant Speaker from 2002 to 2005 and the Deputy Speaker from 2005 to 2008.  Prior to entering Parliament, Mr Simich served as a barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand and a Detective Sergeant with the New Zealand Police.
  • <span class="title">Ronald Jones</span><br/>Professor Ronald Jones, of Remuera, received the Insignia of a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit at an investiture ceremony on 31 March 2009 for services to women's health.  Professor Jones has made a significant contribution to the development and improvement of women's health services in New Zealand and internationally for more than 30 years.  His research has focused on cervical cancer.  He has advocated for the provision of services for the antenatal determination of foetal abnormalities, cancer treatment services and the development of a vaccine for the prevention of cervical cancer.  He has been a member of a number of committees, including the Gisborne Cancer Inquiry.  He is the President of the International Society of Vulvar Disease and Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the International Federation of Cervical Pathology and Colposcopy. 
  • <span class="title">Tony Gibbs</span><br/>Tony Gibbs, of Auckland, received the Insignia of a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit at an investiture ceremony on 31 March 2009 for services to business.  Mr Gibbs has been involved in business as a leader and mentor for more than 25 years.  In this time he established trans-Tasman relationships to create value in exports, employment, and investment returns to many New Zealand citizens.  He has been a director of more than companies and has been committed to the development of New Zealand companies such as Turners, ENZA and Fletcher Forests.  Mr Gibbs was instrumental in Guinness Peat becoming the principal sponsor of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, which contributed significantly to its European tour in 2005.

Governor-General, Hon Sir Anand Satyanand, and Lady Susan Satyanand, hosted four investitures ceremonies at Government House in Auckland on March 31 and April 1, 2 and 3.